Five Reasons to Watch "Portrait of a Lady on Fire" Immediately
Friday, March 27, 2020 at 5:00PM by Murtada Elfadl
A movie event of the highest order is a click away, at least for those of us in the US.
#1 Portrait of a Lady on Fire is now streaming on Hulu. You can watch right this very second if you want.
#2 There’s a lot of choices on streaming but this gives you the chance to swoon as you watch. Gorgeously shot, Portrait is a romance between an artist (Noémie Merlant) and her subject (Adèle Haenel) set in late 18th century France, that smolders with heat and passion...
It imagines a world devoid of men where these two women can find each other and flourish thus giving us a sultry romance we haven’t seen before.
#3 Céline Sciamma’s masterful direction. Watch the space between the two main characters as they circle each other, approach and reproach. She frames the distance between her characters making us feel it in our guts as they come closer to each other physically and emotionally.
#4 Adèle Haenel’s star turn. Sciamma withholds Haenel to give her the true star entrance about 20 minutes into the movie. Even then there’s sly delay, all the more to push the audience’s buttons with the reveal. Later Haenel gets a close up that will leave an indelible mark on everyone’s hearts with the range of emotions she gets to display on her face.
#5 When you watch, you join a movement. There’s a dedicated online fanbase that is passionate and fun to interact with. Tonight there’s even a live twitter event.
Will you join Portrait Nation?
Reader Comments (8)
The use of sound in this movie is so impressive. When you get to the campfire scene turn the volume way up. You will realize you are witnessing cinema greatness.
2019 true masterpiece.
This movie should be enough to explain anyone why it is so important that women write and direct stories about women
Best film of 2019. I can’t wait for the Criterion release.
Great effort on the piece Murtz! A couple of decent phrases in the piece. I just may check out the film when I can, so much appreciated.
I have Criterion Channel, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Mubi, Kanopy, but not Hulu. It seems no matter how many streaming services I get, there's always another that has a "must watch" film on it. If I paid for Hulu, the next day Disney + would be offering the 3-hour Magnificent Ambersons....
WTF, @Nina?
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